Marius belatedly realized his mistake and clamped his mouth shut, but the damage was already done.
Lilliette’s green eyes burned with disgust. In the past, she would have pretended not to understand and vehemently denied any implication—she had once doubted even the most genuine gestures. But now, she was a different person. She had come to know the true meaning of kindness. Johanna and Buttercup had shown it to her, and the administrators practically revered her. Even the knights, servants, and people of Cadis held her in high esteem.
And behind that newfound goodwill—sprouting like tender shoots after a spring shower—was Vlad. She now understood the immense depth of his feelings, as obsessive and clumsy as they were. She had learned to detect the subtle scent of a man’s affection.
“How could you say such a thing?” Liliette demanded, her voice trembling with anger.
